I had a BL Protege I got in 1997. I finally had to get a new one when it started smoking...It really got a workout...I do alterations in my home and lots of other sewing. I got a new BL Evolution a while back. Very pricey. But I needed a new one and I wanted one that did the cover stitch. Love the machine, but a pain in the butt switching it from serging to cover stitch.